Editing? Give sentences a standing eight count, and then hit delete

I'm a sick, twisted individual who enjoys the editing process (especially editing my own writing). There is a weird happiness in clarity, in concision, in cutting. But one part of the editing process consistently used to drive me nuts. That one sentence, that no matter how you reworked it, just couldn't get the job done. No matter whether it expands or contracts, has an active or passive voice, it doesn't say what it needs to say. Eventually, I learned a trick: almost always, that sentence can be deleted. And the overall piece will be better for it. I'm not saying to give up on any sentence too quickly. Give it a standing eight count. Pick it up off the canvas, give it some smelling salts, squirt some water in its face. If it doesn't come out punching, send it out of the ring. Just get rid of it and move on. Give it a shot the next time you get stuck. You'll have a meaner, leaner and more effective piece because of it.